Looking for a quick intro to some journalism basics? Each of these 20 mini-lessons will take no more than 20 minutes.
- In focus: What is the story?
- Beginning, middle, end: Organizing the story
- Keep it moving: Active writing
- Best phrase forward: Digging out the buried lead
- Fact checking: names, numbers, and more
- Attention-grabbing headlines
- Interviews, quotations and paraphrases
- “Show me your story”: relations with sources
- Getting the facts, getting the quotes: Interview skills
- Both sides now: When and how to call “the other side”
- Putting yourself in the story—or not: What voice is appropriate and when?
- He said/she said: Taking sides on truth
- Where you are coming from: Transparency and conflict of interest
- Adding value: Links and sidebars
- Worth a thousand words: good photo, bad photo, framing, etiquette, permissions
- Don’t use my name: Anonymous sources
- Beyond the story: Interactivity for readers
- Tell your mother: Publicizing the story to sources, subjects, friends and fans
- After words: Responding to complaints, comments
- IMHO: op/eds, voices, comments, letters to the editor, blogs
20/20 for Community Journalists ©2008-2014 Mary Turck